7: Our Forgiving God- Teaching Plan

Key Thought: Our God is a forgiving God Who is always working to restore us back into a right relationship with Him.

November 16, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 9:1-3.

Ask class members what is the main point of this passage.
Why did they confess the sins of their ancestors? Hint: Matthew 23:29-36
Personal Application: If these people confessed their sins for hours, how thorough and specific should we be in confessing our sins?
Case Study: While you are supervising the school playground, little Bobby tells you little Johnny has hit him again. This is the third time this week Johnny has done this. Each time he claims he already said, “sorry” and thinks Bobby should just forget about it each time. What do you tell Johnny? Hint: Proverbs 28:13, Luke 19:8.

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 9:4-19.

Image © Pacific Press

Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
How has Israel sinned, according to Daniel’s prayer?
Personal Application: When we see the sins going on in our community and even our church, do we point the finger, or like Daniel include ourselves as part of the sin problem?
Case Study: A fellow class member points out that Daniel is confessing they have not listened to the prophets sent to them, and then asks, if we have listened to the prophets that have been sent to us. How do you respond to your fellow class member?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 1:16-17.

Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
What gives God the right to demand our obedience according to this passage?
Personal Application: When you feel like you are about to self destruct because of your own sins, what hope do you find in verse 17?
Case Study: Your grade school nephew asks you, “Did Jesus know before He created us that we would all sin and turn away from Him, causing Him to die for us? If so, why did He even bother creating us?” What do you tell your nephew?

4. Have a volunteer(s) read Nehemiah 9:9-38 (If time is an issue then read Nehemiah 9:16-21).

Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
Why were the people repeating what happened so long ago to their ancestors? What did that have to do with them now?
Personal Application: Do you want your children and grandchildren to know about your worse sins and mistakes? Why or why not?
Case Study: You get a call this week from your friend who teaches Sabbath School in the other church in your district. After years of being nicotine free she had a traumatic or stressful incident this week, and picked up a package of cigarettes. She does not feel worthy to teach the class this coming Sabbath, and is too embarrassed to talk to anyone in her church about it. She asks you to come over this Sabbath and teach the class as her guest. What is your response?

Conclusion: Encourage your class to share this message with someone this week. Remember, “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148

Amen!